BECA's Common Scholarship Application

BECA's 2019 St. Mary's County Common Scholarship Application is now ready for you to complete. It will be due on February 15, 2019. All the information and links you need to apply are on this page.

The St. Mary's County Common Scholarship Application allows qualified students to choose from 55 different local scholarships. Because some of the scholarships have multiple awards, approximately 130 students will win awards.

Here are the Instructions and Detailed List of Scholarships. Read over this document carefully. Keep it for reference. Do not send it to BECA.

When you are ready to begin working on your electronic application, click on the link below. After you put your name and email into the form, it will email you a link to your own personal online application. Be sure to save the URL as you will need it every time you work on your application. If lost, BECA cannot retrieve it and you will need to start all over again.

If you do not receive the email, check your spam folder. If not there, try a different browser. If that does not work, try a different email address. Icloud and smcps.org addresses are known to block this email. This online application is known to work with the Edge browser on a Windows PC. It works with Safari on the Mac. It does not work with Chrome on the Mac and may not work with Chrome on the PC. The main problem is that check boxes do not appear in Chrome.

When you have completed the application, you print it and then deliver it, with supporting documentation, to BECA. Be sure to hit the submit button after printing to send your electronic data to BECA. Both an electronic and a printed copy (with supporting information) are required for an application to be considered.

SMCPS students will turn in their applications at their school's College and Career Center. You will receive a receipt.

St. Mary's Ryken students may give their application to Kelly Tividor, the Registrar. (NEW)

Information about a dropoff point for Non-SMCPS students will be provided during the first week of January 2019.

If you are unable to drop off your application, you may mail it to BECA, P.O. Box 153, Leonardtown, MD 20650. We do not recommend this because in past years some applications arrived weeks late. If you do mail, use tracking to make sure it is delivered.

Below is the PDF of the PowerPoint presentation that Colleen Blundell used during her presentation at the Scholarship Fair, January 24, 2018. Although it discusses last year's form, it is applicable to this year.

For the latest information, attend the 2019 Scholarship Fair, on January 22, 2019.

#1 Question for the Common Scholarship Application. What do I do with the paper application when I'm finished and it is signed?

When you have completed the application, you must print it and then deliver it, with supporting documentation, to BECA.

SMCPS students will turn in their applications at their school's College and Career Center. You will receive a receipt.

Non-SMCPS students: check back here on January 2, 2019 for the dropoff location.

If you are unable to drop off your application, you may mail it to BECA, P.O. Box 153, Leonardtown, MD 20650. We strongly recommend that you get a tracking number to be sure your application has safely arrived.

Q: I sent in the starter form, but did not get an email with the link to my personal application.

A: First check your spam and junk folders. Next, use a different email address. It is known that iCloud addresses appear to block the email from JotForm.

Q: Do I need to sign the electronic version of the application that I will email to you?

A: Just leave the signature cells blank. Just be sure that when you print out the application that you sign that box in ink. A parent or guardian must also sign if you are under 18.

Additional questions:

1. I am a college student. Can I apply for the BECA scholarship?

The BECA scholarship is only for graduating high school seniors. However there are several scholarships on BECA's St. Mary's County Common Scholarship Application that are available for students currently in college. Carefully read the descriptions to find those scholarships. Read the description of the scholarship carefully to be sure you are eligible. The scholarship description is the final determinate.

2. Can I use the same Service above Self essay for the Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown and Lexington Park Rotary scholarships?

Yes, you may.

3. The boxes on the form don't expand as I type.

This is by design. If you need extra space, there is a box at the end of the application where you can include information that did not fit in the main part of the application. You may only put information that would not fit in the space provided. Please do not include any information not requested. That would be unfair to other applicants.

BECA will not include any documents that we did not request. Again, it would be unfair of us to do that.

A few of the boxes, such as the Personal Statements do expand, however they will not let you enter more than 1024 characters, including spaces. If you cannot see all of your answer, please drag down the bottom right corner of the text box.

4. Can I use an Apple Macintosh computer to complete the Application and Selected Scholarships?

Yes, JotForm is web-based, so should work on any machine. If you have problems, be sure you have the latest version of your browser. If the problem continues, try another browser. Edge and Safari have been tested and work. Chrome does not work.

5. Should I scan and email you all my supporting documents?

No, please deliver the documents to BECA with your printed and signed Application and Selected Scholarships. BECA will scan this and distribute it to scholarship providers you have selected. The data you enter into the JotForm application flows into BECA master spreadsheet after you click the SUBMIT button.

6. Should (May I) I check off all the scholarships to better my chances of winning one?

No, we won't process your application if you do this. No one qualifies for every scholarship.

7. Ihave a 4.1 GPA. If I put down my weighted GPA (4.1) when it asks "on a scale of_____" do I put a 4.0 or 5.0?

Please use 4.0. This indicates that a student with all A's GPA is 4.0. You have exceeded that by taking more challenging courses, so your 4.1 reflects this fact.

8. I have asked my community member and teacher for letters of recommendation, but I was unsure as to the method of sending. The instructions list said that they should be put in the packet of things I am to send, and I wasn't sure the details of this, such as whether they should be in an envelope with a signed seal or just a printed sheet of paper.

The letters should be included with the materials that you mail to us. They should be clipped together with the other documents. They should not be in an envelope.

9. I am wondering how the SAT score report is to be submitted. On the College Board website, there is a page for viewing the SAT score report but it says "A printout of this page will not be accepted by colleges as an official score report." However, I see no other way to view the scores or have a copy mailed to my house to be included in the packet. Is it permitted to print and include this page, despite not being considered official by the College Board?

Yes, just print the score report from the website and include that in your packet as documentation. If you win a scholarship, the scholarship provider may ask you for an official copy. Contact the College Board for information on official copies.

10. I'm from Calvert County (or Charles County). Can I apply for scholarships using BECA's St. Mary's County Common Scholararship Application?.

Yes, you may. There are a number of scholarships that students from Calvert or Charles County are eligible for. See the guide link below. It is from 2018, but many of the scholarships are the same. It will be updated by January 22, 2019.

There is a column showing which scholarships apply to non-St. Mary's County students. The column has a white checkmark with a dark grey background to indicate the scholarships apply to other counties besides St. Mary's. Read the full description of the scholarship to verify that you qualify. Do not apply for scholarships that are only open to St. Mary's County students.

STEP 1. Thelink below provides instructions and a detailed list of the scholarships offered. Click the link to download the pdf form, and then print it. You will not send this form to BECA. Carefully read the requirements, check off the scholarships for which you are qualified, then keep the form for your records. Transfer the list of selected scholarships to the online form.

STEP 2. Next, follow the link below for the online application. The link takes you to a start page that first asks for your name and email address. When you submit it, you will immediately be sent an email with a new URL on the bottom. This is your personal URL. SAVE IT, as you will need it in order to complete your application over multiple sessions. Use the URL to go to the application. The tabs at the top will allow you to move from section to section of the application.

(Note...some email systems are filtering out the confirmation message. It doesn't go to spam, it just doesn't come through. If you don't get a confirmation email in 5 minutes, try using a different email. Metrocast, for one, has been rejecting these messages.)

SAVING: IMPORTANT. You will see a SAVE button at the bottom of each page. You may save your data and complete the form over multiple sessions. Be sure to click on the save button before you leave any page. Also, be sure to print the form and verify the information before you click the SUBMIT button.

See the Instructions and Detailed List of Scholarships that you downloaded for step by step instructions.

How to Submit Your Application

When complete, print your application, sign it, make a copy for your records and mail the application and supporting documents to BECA, P.O. Box 153, Leonardtown, MD 20650. It must be postmarked by March 1, 2016. You must also press the "submit" button to send your data electronically to BECA. Your application is complete only when the printed form and supporting documents and the electronic submission are received by BECA.

Alternate ways to submit your application and supporting documents:

At GMHS and CHS, you may turn your paper application and supporting documethe College and Career Center Liaison or the College Access Program Advisor for review and delivery to BECA.

At LHS you may turn your paper application auments in during any lunch period on any Thursdays to the College Access Program Advisor, Ms. Toombs, in the College and Career Center for review and delivery to BECA.

At the Forrest Center

You may turn your paper applicationyour counselor, Ms. Kraft, for review and delivery to BECA. College Access Program Staff are providing workshops and support at the

1. I didn't get the confirmation email with a link to the full application.

Look in your spam folder. If not there, and you are sure you typed the email address correctly, try another email address. Metrocast, especially, seems to reject the confirmation emails we send.

2. When I click on "BACK/SAVE" the previous page opens. Why don't you use "Next."

In the system we are using NEXT only saves your work if you have completed every required field. We felt this would be too restrictive. BACK saves your data no matter what you have written on the page. Save each page and then use the tabs at the top to go from section to section.

3. I am a college student. Can I apply for the BECA scholarship?

The BECA scholarship is just one of 40+ scholarships on the Common Applications. It is only for graduating high school seniors. However there are several scholarships on the St. Mary's County Common Scholarship Application that are available for students currently in college. The description will say that eligible students include those currently in college.

4. Can I use the same Service above Self essay for the Leonardtown and Lexington Park Rotary scholarships?

Yes, for 2016, you can.

5. Can I use an Apple Macintosh computer to complete the Application and Selected Scholarships?

Yes, Jotforms hosts a web-based application, so you will be able to complete the form on any supported web browser.

6. Should I scan and email you all my supporting documents?

No, you will mail the documents (or turn in at the College and Career Center) to BECA with your printed web- based Application and Selected Scholarships. BECA will scan this and distribute it to scholarship rxcentre24.com you have selected.

7. Should I check off all the scholarships to better my chances of winning one?

No, we won't process your application if you do this. It is not possible for one person to qualify for every scholarship.

8. I have asked a community member and teacher for letters of recommendation, but I was unsure as to the method of sending. The instructions list said that they should be put in the packet of things I am to send, and I wasn't sure the details of this, such as whether they should be in an envelope with a signed seal or just a printed sheet of paper.

The letters should be included with the materials that you mail to us. They should be clipped together with the other documents. They should not be in an envelope. The only exception would be if your letters are required to be confidential for some other application, in which case, please include them in the correct order, sealed in their original envelopes.

9. I am wondering how the SAT score report is to be submitted. On the College Board website, there is a page for viewing the SAT score report but it says "A printout of this page will not be accepted by colleges as an official score report." However, I see no other way to view the scoresor have a copy mailed to my house to be included in the packet. Is it permitted to print and include this page, despite not being considered official by the College Board?

Yes, just print the score report from the website and include that in your packet as documentation. If you win a scholarship, the scholarship provider may ask you for an official copy. Contact the College Board for information on official copies.

10. I have taken classes at the College of Southern Maryland while in high school. Should I list myself as a college student?

No, you are only a college student if you only attend college and are not dual enrolled in high school and college.

11. The SAT form from the web is 10 pages. Do you want all of them, or just the two-page summary?

The short summary is all you need to send.

12. The St. Mary's Hospital Foundation scholarship has a separate application, due on March 14. Should I include the essay in the BECA's St. Mary's Common Scholarship Application, or send it separately to the hospital?

You can apply for this scholarship via BECA, or directly to the hospital foundation. If through BECA, include all the information BECA requests including the essay. If you apply directly to the hospital, follow their instructions. You do not need to apply separately to each one.

13. There are different versions of the Instructions and Detailed list of Scholarships. How do I know I have the latest version? As of Feb. 8, 2016, if you see a reference to "Jotforms" and not to "Adobe Forms Central" at the bottom of page 1, and see Scholarship A21, the National Pan-Hellenic Council listed on page 7, then you have the latest version. If not, please download and print out the Instructions and Detailed LIst of Scholarships again. The electronic form has these changes incorporated and any time you log in, you will see the latest version.